Being pretty should not be an accusation. Attractiveness doesn’t cancel out talent. There are many people who fit the typical idea of beauty who are AMAZING actors, and many ‘nontraditional’ beauties with no acting chops to speak of. Besides, there are a LOT of people who think Christopher Meloni is the HOTTEST thing since sliced bread, and no one ever accused him of being hired purely for eye candy.

He would be a great choice if this was a different Law and Order show. If this was the original I would think that he would be great but I don’t see him working on SVU. He’s a great actor and I can’t wait to see what he does next though.

I see they’re going the victim/criminal route with Kevin Alejandro.He was on an episode last season as one of three men who raped a woman. But he’s a great actor and I could try to erase that role if they write this new guy well.

That would be typical of the Law & Order franchise – bring back someone who was on previously. For example Diane Neal played a female rapist and later came back as the D.A. Mrs. Stabler played a murderer on the mother ship & now she’s Elliot’s wife.

I think the perfect choice, though, would be Jason Clark from the Chicago Code

I keep saying John Stamos for this exact reason. He would be perfect! I think that the replacement needs to be someone closer to Olivia’s age… and not some young gun. I also still vote for upping IceT’s profile and partnering him with Liv.

Totally with you guys! I had hoped they would move up Fin, Munch AND B.D. Wong (he’s the best)! As you say, they ignored us – but what do WE know? Snark. (I think they know we smell blood and are trolling for new viewers with the young studs. We’ll see…)

For me, Michael Raymond-James seems like he’s got the best shot of forging a truly original character, someone who probably won’t play it too straight-and-narrow. Someone who’s liable to be very entertaining to watch. The guy’s got personality to spare. I enjoyed Alejandro on Southland, but felt he was often overshadowed by Shawn Hatosy’s dynamic performances. Pino never stood out that much to me on Cold Case. Never watched Ghost Whisperer, so can’t comment on David Conrad.

This. I’m so glad somebody else feels this way. I loved this man on Terriers. He brought a depth to his character…and he was funny to boot! Oh, and he’s sexy in a way that’s unexpected. He’s got ‘it’, and his acting is amazing. More people need to discover this actor and I truly hope that he can get an opportunity like being on this show. I mean, nobody can ‘replace’ Meloni, but this guy is interesting and very talented. Here’s hoping!

I am thoroughly unimpressed with the choices presented. I was hoping that there was a chance that there would be a big-name actor to fill to role, or that an actor with whom I am totally unfamiliar would be given a big break and a chance to prove himself. This looks like bland recycling of competent, but underwhelming, network-ready actors who know to not rock the boat. My vote is for none of the above.

While you’re entitled to your opinion, and I even agree with it to some extent, there is no way you could have watched Terriers and still have the impression that Michael Raymond-James is ‘competent but underwhelming’. He is really a fantastic actor – my worry if he were to take this role (and I don’t watch this show, so take it with a grain of salt) is that L&O is such a formulaic show that he’d have no opportunity to really show what he can do.

I think it’s funny how David Conrad looks a little like he could be related to Christopher Meloni. Not sure how he would be in the role if he is anything like in Ghost Whisperer. I think Kevin Alejandro has the best chance of filling the role.

I’d rather have Chris Meloni, but if I have to pick someon else, then I’d love Kevin Alejandro…one of the hardest working actors ever! He’s in everything! And the fact that he’s been on the show as a criminal….well that’s just the way Law & Order rolls!! So many actors have been cross-utilized on all 3 L&O shows as cops, lawyers and or victims/criminals!! It’s almost like a game!!

Danny Pino. I love that man. I think Meloni is ugly as hell so any of these men will be an improvement. And acting wise will probably be better as well since all they had Meloni doing as Stabler was screaming and punching things. I’m looking forward to a change.

I have no tolerance for people who say nasty things to each other via internet, I find it very cowardly, so to prevent myself from being hypocritical, all I will say is I can’t believe you think the best way to ‘improve’ on Meloni’s character is to find someone who better fits your idea of attractive. And that we must be watching different shows, the Stabler I know has a lot of depth.

As good of an actor as Michael Raymond-James is; why is he even considered for the lead role? He was in Stabler’s now-default final episode. My vote’s for Danny Pino. As a person of color, I’m always a fan of diversity on network TV.

Hands down I will vote for Danny Pino. He was one of the main reasons I watched Cold Case for as long as I did. He has a very good smoldering intensity that the others lack,IMO. I think frankly they’re all too young to be paired with Olivia Benson, but I think the writing is clearly on the wall:this will be her last season so going forward they can pick and choose to appeal to a younger audience if this show is to survive beyond the next year or two.MH and CM made SVU the success it was for 12 years.If MH intends to bow out gracefully- then they need to choose wisely.I appreciate that she is giving them another six months to a year of her character before she does leave permanently. I only wish Christopher Meloni had taken that path as well.I wish him well in his future endeavors.

It helps when Neal Baer isn’t permanently stuck up Mariska Hargitay’s twat. SVU will fall without him. He is the backbone of this show. Ratings went up dramatically when Hargitay was on maternity leave. The episode where Stabler kissed Dani Beck was the highest rated of the entire show. When Hargitay came back, she had two episodes where she was alone. Both tanked in the ratings. Both loat almost three million in ratings than the episode with the Stabler/Beck kiss.

And the reason Meloni left is that he was sick and tired of being considered expendable. Ratings for the new season will be the test. If they fail, Wolf will be busting down Meloni’s door to get him back.

David Conrad or Kevin Alejandro. I’ve never seen Kevin in a role I didn’t enjoy. Love him on True Blood and the season finale of Bones! I have to admit that I was/am smitten by Jim Clancey on Ghost Whisperer. This past weekend I saw a rerun of CSI:Miami where he guest starred, and he was almost scary as the “good guy gone bad” type if character. I can see him being gritty enough to be an SVU cop. But I have to say… I do agree that Christopher Melioni and Elliot Stabler are impossible to replace. I keep hoping there will be a surprise renewal of his contract!

Ido think that david conrad would be good to replace meloni david is a good actor both in Movie TV and stage. I saw him in Men of honor return to paradise and CVSI Miami where he played a good guy gone bad there are a few others movies that I have seen and also let not forget Jim Clancey on tho ghost whisperer

I hope whoever they get has another job in the wings cause SVU is going to tank without Meloni. NO one can replace him and once Mariska lightens her load after the 13th episode, SVU is dead. RIP old friend.

Chris Meloni is irreplaceable. So don’t try to replace him because you will fail. I also wanted Fin to take his place but Ice doesn’t want to be promoted to lead role due to the hours apparently. So give us back Casey Novak and Alex Cabot and save the show before the entire Law and Order franchise collapses around your ankles, Mr. Wolf.

The show’s spark will be gone without Meloni — for my money, L&O:SVU is the single worst offender in terms of stinging ‘shippers along but never giving them anything, and the fans won’t forgive. That said, Kevin Alejandro’s a terrific, charismatic actor overdue for breaking through. I’d like to see him get the part. (I’d have liked to see Olivia get a female partner even more, though.)

OMG! Kevin Alejandro would be awesome! He was FREAKING AMAZING in Southland and I was devastated to see him leave that show. I love him on True Blood as Jesus too, so that would be my only reason why I wouldn’t want him to be cast in SVU. But, I do think he would be an excellent addition to the cast. David Conrad and Danny Pino would also be good. Still as much as I like these three, I’m not sure if anyone can ever replace Chris Meloni.